512.1. A person may not incur expenses described in paragraph 9 of section 453 unless the person holds an authorization issued in accordance with this division.
Only an elector or a group not endowed with legal personality and composed in the majority of natural persons who are qualified electors may apply for authorization as a private intervenor.
An authorized political party that does not present candidates at a general election or a by-election and that wishes to intervene as a private intervenor shall notify the returning officer of the municipality accordingly. The party is deemed to hold an authorization as a private intervenor from the returning officer from the date its notice is received; the treasurer assigns the party an authorization number.
Sections 512.7, 512.8 and 512.12 to 512.20 apply to that party, with the necessary modifications. For the purposes of those sections, the party leader is deemed to be the elector representing the private intervenor referred to in the last paragraph of section 512.3.
An authorized political party that took advantage of section 455 during an election period cannot obtain the status of private intervenor during that period.
1998, c. 52, s. 99; 2005, c. 28, s. 99; 2009, c. 11, s. 59.